Indians Prospect Insider

The good Justin Masterson was on display Wednesday as the right-hander pitched four shutout innings to lead the Indians to a 4-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Yan Gomes and Mark Reynolds each recorded two hits for the Indians in the contest, and 42-year-old designated hitter Jason Giambi recorded his first hit of the spring. Join the IBI's Steve Orbanek as he recaps all the action and offers some takeaways.

It's a new day here at the Corner of Carnegie and Ontario. While the North Shore spends it's days trying to figure out why that idiotic muskrat in Punxsutawney said winter would be over in two weeks, I'm busy saving my pennies to pick up my very first Ubaldo Jimenez jersey. That's right, it's time to embrace the enigmatic wonder of Ubaldo, and you'll never, EVER be the same again...

The IBI's 2013 Indians Top 60 Prospect countdown continues on with first baseman Jesus Aguilar. Aguilar is a guy that a lot of Indians fans and the organization themselves are excited about because good right-handed power is hard to find. He certainly has that and then some, and is arguably the best power prospect in the entire system. Tony talks about that power potential and other areas he excels as a hitter and defender, and also talks about where he has opportunity for improvement in this detailed scouting report.

Apparently hitting home runs was as viral as the Harlem Shake in Scottsdale, Arizona on Tuesday as the Indians slugged their way to a 4-3 victory over the defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants. Both teams collected their share of runs via the long ball as Cleveland hitters clubbed three solo blasts while the Giants belted two of their own. Tribe bullpen hopeful Bryan Shaw walked away with the win while starting rotation candidate Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched three shutout innings.

Nick Hagadone has gotten off to a torrid start this spring, and it looks as if he could be positioning himself as a front-runner for one of the Indians' open bullpen spots. Join the IBI's Steve Orbanek as he looks back at Hagadone's career and touches on what the future may hold for the left-hander in this week's edition of Then & Now.

The IBI's 2013 Indians Top 60 Prospect countdown continues on with outfielder Luigi Rodriguez. Defensively and offensively the Indians feel like Rodriguez has as much talent as anybody in the organization, it is just a matter of him putting it together to be more consistent as a player day by day rather than in streaks throughout the year. Tony discusses all the abilities he brings with his bat and speed, and touches on where he needs to make big improvements in this detailed scouting report.

The Indians had a dominant performance on Monday and snapped a two-game losing streak with a 13-5 win over the Chicago Cubs. Nick Swisher and Lonnie Chisenhall each had three hits, and rotation hopefuls Carlos Carrasco and Trevor Bauer were in action. Join the IBI's Steve Orbanek as he recaps the action and also offers some takeaways from the contest.

You can say what you want about the Indians' minor league organization, but their depth of talent in the middle infield is second-to-none. How good is it? Arguably their best position player of the past four years is at shortstop, and arguably their best prospect of the past two years is at second. Two of their top three prospects are shortstops, and you could make a case that four of the top five are middle infielders? So, who will be the best?

The IBI's 2013 Indians Top 60 Prospect countdown continues on with right-handed pitcher Trey Haley. It has taken some time, but everything is starting to come together for Haley now that he is 100% healthy and his fastball command is improving. He has the best arm in the system and could still end up starting again, and Tony talks about his talented right arm, what it brings, what he can become, and what he needs to improve in this detailed scouting report.

Tony has been receiving a lot of inquiries as to the availability of his new 2013 Cleveland Indians prospect book. Today he provides a very quick update on the status of it as it is all written and is just in the final stages of completion with putting it together to send to press. He provides an update on that and when it may become available. Over 200 scouting reports in the book this year!!

The Cleveland Indians continued their spring decent down the other side of the mountain on Sunday afternoon, as the Los Angeles Dodgers used a big inning and a big home run to blow open a pitcher's duel in the seventh inning, carrying them to a 5-1 victory over the Indians.The Tribe bullpen showcased perhaps their three biggest arms in Vinnie Pestano, Cody Allen and Nick Hagadone, and they didn't disappoint...for the most part...

The IBI's 2013 Indians Top 60 Prospect countdown continues on with left-handed pitcher Nick Hagadone. Hagadone has all the goods to be a dominating presence at the backed of a Major League bullpen, and showed that up until his final three weeks of action last season when everything fell apart and he suffered a self-inflicted hand injury. The Indians need a power armed lefty in the pen, and Tony looks at what stuff he brings, what he needs to get better at, and more in this detailed scouting report.

Tony returns from his vacation with another edition of the Happenings to check in on how things are going for the Indians in spring training. He talks about the Carlos Carrasco suspension and how the Indians may work around it, the injuries that are starting to pile up, takes a closer look at Corey Kluber and what value he truly brings to the team, updates us on how Rule 5 picks TJ McFarland and Hector Rondon are doing, provides the full 11-game TV schedule for the Indians this spring, and more!

The power of Ryan Raburn enflamed Goodyear Ballpark once again on Saturday as the utility player continued to state his case for the Indians bench this season as he clubbed his fourth home run of the young Cactus League campaign as part of the Indians’ six-run first inning. But the fun did not last long as Ubaldo Jimenez and the pitching staff came unraveled in the third inning to allow seven runs.

The IBI's 2013 Indians Top 60 Prospect countdown continues on with outfielder Anthony Santander. If not for the amazing season that Dorssys Paulino had in the Arizona League last year, then Santander would have probably received a lot more attention for the great pro debut he had himself. Tony provides lots of insight into what his upside is, what his strengths and weaknesses are, and what is in store for him this coming season in this detailed scouting report.

Though the pitching wasn’t pretty, the Indians salvaged a 9-7 victory in the late innings on Friday against the White Sox. Justin Masterson struggled, but a cast of non-regulars were the difference as Cord Phelps, Matt Carson, and Mike McDade had good games to lead the Indians to victory.

Indians closer Chris Perez has been shelved with a subscapularis strain in his right shoulder and will not throw for the next seven to ten days. He will begin a return to throwing program as soon as he is asymptomatic, and is expected to be out of game action for at least three to four weeks. Also, Frank Herrmann has been shut down with a right elbow strain.

It's been an incredible week at the plate for Ryan Raburn, who could now be positioned as a frontrunner for one of the Indians' bench jobs. Also, roster hopefuls Trevor Bauer and Yan Gomes continue to impress, but does either player have a legitimate shot at making the Major League roster? The IBI's Steve Orbanek touches on these players and more in this week's edition of the Spring Training Notebook.

The IBI's 2013 Indians Top 60 Prospect countdown continues on with right-handed releiver Chen-Chang Lee. Called C.C. Lee for short, he was off to a hot start last season before a serious elbow injury sidelined him in mid-April and resulted in Tommy John surgery. Tony gives an update on his rehab and return back to the mound, what his expectations for this season are, and what his future holds with the Indians in this detailed scouting report.

Available IBI Books

The 2014 Cleveland Indians Baseball Insider book featuring the Indians' Top 100 Prospects and more is now available. Also, previous editions from 2008-2012 are also available at a discounted rate. Just click on the book image for more information. Thanks again for all the support!